Librarian's Pick: 'Sky Sailors: True Stories of the Balloon Era.'

Nov. 8, 2011

Written by

Jennifer Prince | Buncombe County Public Libraries

A confluence of articulate, insightful and like-minded individuals brought about the Age of Enlightenment in 18th century France. Characterized by the advancement of reason and the free exchange of ideas, the Age of Enlightenment fostered an unprecedented interest in empirical science.

With France being such an illustrious hive during this era, “the balloon era” experienced its nascence there. In his new book for youth, “Sky Sailors: True Stories of the Balloon Era,” author David L. Bristow describes a fascinating, storied era in which science met with flights of fancy.

Using an upbeat, conversational writing style, Bristow begins by reminding readers that up until the late 1700s, people had never seen an aircraft of any kind. By the 1780s, however, the idea of flight by balloon was popular. Many experimented with it. Some failed fatally. Others met with great success.

Throughout the book, Bristow recounts in chronological order personal stories about ballooning from the 18th and 19th centuries. Readers are introduced to the first aeronauts in France who, at first, by edict of the king, were allowed only to put farm animals in flight.

Another account relates how a young French woman, Sophie Blanchard, surprised her neighbors by assuming her deceased husband’s job as balloonist. Over the next few years, she made her flights more dramatic.

Once, for a night launch, she arranged for fireworks to go off as she ascended so that the effect would be that of a large shooting star. Audiences loved her for it.

With each personal account, Bristow describes the science that influenced those aeronauts. Not all of the experiments came into universal use.

For instance, Jean-Pierre Blanchard (Sophie’s husband), tweaked the standard balloon with ideas he developed watching birds fly. One prototype he made had four flapping wings powered by the aeronaut’s arms and legs. It is suspected, though not confirmed, his creation never left the ground.

Then in 1858, two children, ages 3 and 8, were released by accident in a balloon. They were recovered safely the next day. Silas Brooks, the balloon’s aeronaut, then calculated how quickly and how far the balloon went up.

Based on what he knew about the lift achievable under certain conditions, Brooks calculated that the children’s ascent took them 4 1/2 miles into the air, more than 23,000 feet.

Eventually, Bristow points out, ballooning became more reliable and thus, more widespread. Governments adopted ballooning in order to spy and take aerial photos. Adventurers ballooned in extreme conditions on purpose.

The book is profusely illustrated with period drawings, postcards and even a couple of photographs.